Alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). One in every 12 adults, 17.6 million people, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. Several million more engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. Looking into the reasons individuals become addicted to alcohol is why Dr. Mark Fillmore came to the University of Kentucky 17 years ago.

Fillmore’s research is a combination of psychology, behavioral neuroscience, biology and pharmacology. Looking at the differing ways individuals react to drugs of abuse, whether the drug be alcohol, marijuana, or some other drug of abuse, may give clues to why some people become dependent on a drug over time.

For almost 3 years, the Open Syllabus Project (OSP) has collected and analyzed syllabi to shed light on what texts are assigned in college courses. The Project boasts a catalog of 1.1 million syllabi, and its insights were chronicled in a January 2016 feature in the New York Times titled, “What a Million Syllabuses Can Teach Us.”

The Committee on Social Theory is excited to announce the first lecturer of the Spring Lecture Series, Lori Watson. Lori Watson is Associate Professor of Philosophy and director of the Gender Studies Program, University of San Diego. Dr. Watson's lecture will address "Sex Equality and Public Reason." Reception to follow at 5:30 p.m. in the Gaines Center Commonwealth House.

STEMCats, sponsored by HHMI, is designed to help students succeed at UK. The program prepares students both academically and socially through participation in FastTrack or FOCUS, research opportunities, and special seminar courses. Students participating in STEMCats will build confidence, enthusiasm, satisfaction and a sense of belonging to UK, and experience a smoother transition to college coursework. This leads to improved performance and higher academic achievement.